A red brick and frame structure built in 1884 by black masons, St. Paul's was the first independent congregation of African Americans in Raleigh and is the oldest African-American church in Wake County, North Carolina.

Before the end of the Civil War, the future founders of St. Paul's had been slave members of the Edenton Street United Methodist Church.

After slavery was abolished, St. Paul's ministers became leaders and activists in black politics during the Reconstruction period.

In addition, some of North Carolina's foremost black spokesmen, such as State Senator Henry Eppes, Legislator Stewart Ellison and R. W. H. Leak, a leader in the late 19th century Republican-Populist movement, were members of St. Paul's.

Because of earning lower wages in a segregated society, members of the congregation chose to live on bread and molasses to raise enough money to complete the church.

Donations from the white community as well as black resulted in reconstruction of the church, including addition of the long-planned spire.

During the 1960s and after success of the Voting Rights Act, the community mobilized to increase voter registration and encourage turnout at elections.